Cardwell WWTP - Bucoda, Missouri Wastewater Treatment Plant

Cardwell WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located near Bucoda in Dunklin County, Missouri. The plant serves a population of approximately 789 residents, providing essential sanitation services for this rural community in the southeastern part of the state. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 378.54 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 363.40 cubic meters per day, the facility operates near its design capacity, indicating consistent demand from the local population. The treated effluent is discharged into nearby water bodies that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. This discharge contributes to the overall water quality management in the region, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems. The plant's operation is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Cardwell WWTP discharges into local streams that are part of the Mississippi River watershed. The receiving waters flow through agricultural and rural areas before reaching the Mississippi River, which is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse fish and wildlife. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.